Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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From Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- (to split, separate). The verb has generally been connected to Old Armenian ցելում (cʻelum, to split, tear) Hittite 𒅖𒆗𒆷𒄿 (iškalla, to tear apart, slit open) and Lithuanian skélti (to split). The geminate -λλ- seems to go back to either *σκάλ-ιω (*skál-iō) (as in Lithuanian skiliù (to strike fire)), or *σκάλ-νω (*skál-nō), with a nasal present like Lithuanian skilù (to split off, separate oneself), Old Armenian քաղեմ (kʻałem, to pluck, weed, mow, harvest).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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σκᾰ́λλω (skállō)

  1. to stir up, hoe
  2. (figuratively) to search, probe

Inflection

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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